1 Corinthians 4:12

1 Corinthians 4:12 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
• New International Version (NIV)We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;
• New King James Version (NKJV)And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;
• New Living Translation (NLT)We work wearily with our own hands to earn our living. We bless those who curse us. We are patient with those who abuse us.

Context of 1 Corinthians 4:12

10We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. 11To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; 13when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things. 14I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children.

1 Corinthians 4:12 word by word

καὶ κοπιῶμεν ἐργαζόμενοι ταῖς ἰδίαις χερσίν· λοιδορούμενοι εὐλογοῦμεν, διωκόμενοι ἀνεχόμεθα,Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• labourκοπιάωkopiaō · to laborG2872
• workingἐργάζομαιergazomai · to workG2038
• with our ownἴδιοςidios · one's own/privateG2398
• handsχείρcheir · handG5495
• being reviledλοιδορέωloidoreō · to revileG3058
• we blessεὐλογέωeulogeō · to praise/blessG2127
• being persecutedδιώκωdiōkō · to pursueG1377
• we suffer itἀνέχωanechomai · to endureG430

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 4:12

• 1 Corinthians 9:6Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living?
• Acts 18:3and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade.
• Acts 20:34You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:9For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
• 2 Thessalonians 3:8nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you.
• 1 Timothy 4:10For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.
• Matthew 5:44But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
• Luke 6:28bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.
• Luke 23:34And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." And they cast lots to divide his garments.
• Acts 7:60And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
• Romans 12:14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
• 1 Peter 2:23When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
• 1 Peter 3:9Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.
• Jude 1:9But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, "The Lord rebuke you."
• Matthew 5:11"Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
• 1 Peter 3:14But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 4:12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12Working with our own hands - They were obliged to labor in order to supply themselves with the necessaries of life while preaching the Gospel to others. This, no doubt, was the case in every place were no Church had been as yet formed: afterwards, the people of God supplied their ministers, according to their power, with food and raiment. Being reviled, we bless, etc. - What a most amiable picture does this exhibit of the power of the grace of Christ! Man…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12And labour … - This Paul often did. See the note at Acts 18:3; compare Acts 20:34; 1 Thessalonians 2:9. 2 Thessalonians 3:8. Being reviled - That they were often reviled or reproached, their history everywhere shows. See the Acts of the Apostles. They were reviled or ridiculed as Jews by the Gentiles; and jeered by all as “Nazarenes,” and as deluded followers of Jesus; as the victims of a foolish superstition and enthusiasm. We bless - We return good for…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-13Verses 7-13 We have no reason to be proud; all we have, or are, or do, that is good, is owing to the free and rich grace of God. A sinner snatched from destruction by sovereign grace alone, must be very absurd and inconsistent, if proud of the free gifts of God. St. Paul sets forth his own circumstances, ver. 9 Allusion is made to the cruel spectacles in the Roman games; where men were forced to cut one another to pieces, to divert the people; and where…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12We work hard with our own hands: To avoid accusations of taking money, Paul chose to support himself (1 Corinthians 9:3–18; Acts 18:3; 20:33–35). When we are vilified, we bless: Paul's response followed the teachings of Jesus (Matthew 5:44–45; compare Romans 12:14, 17–21).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. working with our own hands--namely, "even unto this present hour" (1Co 4:11). This is not stated in the narrative of Paul's proceedings at Ephesus, from which city he wrote this Epistle (though it is expressly stated of him at Corinth, compare Ac 18:3, 19). But in his address to the Ephesian elders at Miletus (Ac 20:34), he says, "Ye yourselves know that these hands have ministered unto my necessities," &c. The undesignedness of the coincidence thus…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 4:12

• Forgiveness
• Minister, Christian
• Paul
• Persecution
• Self-Denial
• Suffering
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Account
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Instructor
• Offscouring
• Rod
• Shame
• Steward
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Forgiveness
• Paul, the Apostle

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings